The Stillness at Brimstone Hill Fortress
The Sea Cloud II looked like a small fly in comparison to the massive cruise ship named the Prinzendam, docked next door in St. Kitts harbor. Hundreds of passengers filed out of the giant doors and down their long gangway, flooding the dock with a sea of khaki safari hats. Using my most tactful maneuvering skills, I darted in and out of the traffic looking for our lovely agent, Angela, waiting to take us away from the madness.
Arriving at Brimstone Hill Fortress produced a feeling of serene calm. The air had a dewy weight to its soft breeze as it floated over the hill the fortress was perched upon. Lennox Honychurch, Staff Historian, gathered our group by the overlook point to give an introduction on what we were to see. The site dated back to 1690 when the first cannons were mounted on Brimstone by the British in defense of the French occupation. Despite over 150 years of battles and turmoil ending in complete abandonment in 1852, the Fortress has been restored, complete with a visitors’ center in 1992.
To our pleasant surprise, our small group was the only visiting Brimstone Fortress this morning. After Lennox’s briefing, we walked in silence up the hillside stone stairs and through the tunnels and rooms of the structure. I enjoyed being able to truly feel the immensity and history of the site. Pausing for a moment to take in the view from the highest point I could find, I felt miles from the hustle of the St. Kitt’s marina—instead, only the stillness at Brimstone Hill Fortress.
The Sea Cloud II looked like a small fly in comparison to the massive cruise ship named the Prinzendam, docked next door in St. Kitts harbor. Hundreds of passengers filed out of the giant doors and down their long gangway, flooding the dock with a sea of khaki safari hats. Using my most tactful maneuvering skills, I darted in and out of the traffic looking for our lovely agent, Angela, waiting to take us away from the madness.
Arriving at Brimstone Hill Fortress produced a feeling of serene calm. The air had a dewy weight to its soft breeze as it floated over the hill the fortress was perched upon. Lennox Honychurch, Staff Historian, gathered our group by the overlook point to give an introduction on what we were to see. The site dated back to 1690 when the first cannons were mounted on Brimstone by the British in defense of the French occupation. Despite over 150 years of battles and turmoil ending in complete abandonment in 1852, the Fortress has been restored, complete with a visitors’ center in 1992.
To our pleasant surprise, our small group was the only visiting Brimstone Fortress this morning. After Lennox’s briefing, we walked in silence up the hillside stone stairs and through the tunnels and rooms of the structure. I enjoyed being able to truly feel the immensity and history of the site. Pausing for a moment to take in the view from the highest point I could find, I felt miles from the hustle of the St. Kitt’s marina—instead, only the stillness at Brimstone Hill Fortress.
